Goal: Expel students charged with hate crime and vandalism of a chapel.

Two students at Northwestern University were arrested and charged with hate crime to a place of worship, vandalism, and criminal damage to property. Anthony Morales and Matthew Kafker, both freshmen at Northwestern University, allegedly spray painted the walls of the Alice Millar Chapel with racist and homophobic slurs along with drawings of genitals and presidential candidate Donald Trump’s name. University President Morton Schapiro sent an email to the two students condemning their actions as a “disgusting act of hatred.” The university has placed the students on interim suspension, but the end result of this must be that they are permanently expelled from the school.

The details of the what these two young men posted inside the chapel are truly disturbing. It’s reported that their graffiti included multiple expletives followed by slurs against African Americans, swastikas, derogatory words for homosexuals and crossed out photos of Muslim students. They also reportedly spray painted the name “Trump,” in reference to the presidential candidate Donald Trump whose campaign has been accused of promoting violence and racism.

The students have been placed on interim suspension, which prevents them from being on campus. During their bond hearing, Judge Peggy Chiampas described their actions as “disgusting” and reiterated to them how lucky they were to be at Northwestern University. She set their bail at $50,000. Both men reportedly expressed no remorse, and said nothing during the hearing. People who not only hold thoughts that are this evil and full of hatred, but decide to express them through forms of vandalism, should not be allowed to ever set foot in a place like Northwestern University, an institution that is devoted to the growth of developing young minds.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear President Schapiro,

The alleged acts of vandalism by Anthony Morales and Matthew Kafker to one of your university’s places of worship is one of the most despicable hate crimes ever carried out on an American college campus. I understand that their reported crimes are currently under further investigation and that you have placed them on interim suspension. However, I think the fact they showed no remorse and did not contest the charges are strong indications that they may be guilty.

Not only will permanently expelling these students from school ensure that they can never carry out any kind of heinous hate crime or act of vandalism on campus again, but this is an opportunity to set a precedent for other schools on how to handle hate crimes.

Hate crimes like this, which attack people because of the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, or their religion, create a toxic environment where many people will begin to feel targeted and unsafe. These students must be permanently expelled to show that this kind of crime will never be tolerated.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Brian Keegan

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